Checkbox

Checkboxes allow a user to select zero, one, or multiple values from a predefined list of 7 or less options.

yarn add @workday/canvas-kit-react
Install
yarn add @workday/canvas-kit-react

Anatomy

Image of a Checkbox Group in its default state.

  1. Form Field Label: The Form Field Label describes all of the checkboxes in the checkbox group and functions as a header.
  2. Checkbox: Checkboxes are aligned close to its label or by itself in some cases.
  3. Checkbox Label: Checkbox Labels give information about what to select or unselect.

Usage Guidance

  • The Form Field Label can be positioned in two places; above or left of the checkbox group for LTR languages. Form Field Labels are aligned to the right of the checkbox group for RTL languages.
  • Checkbox Labels are positioned to the right of Checkboxes for LTR languages or to the left of Checkboxes for RTL languages.
  • Checkboxes allow users to select one or many options. Selected options are shown as a white check with blue fill. Clicking it again will deselect the choice.
  • Each Checkbox is tied to a distinct value. Label for each selection should describe the choice and be kept as concise as possible. See these guidelines for more information on writing Checkbox labels.

When to Use

  • Use Checkboxes when the user is allowed to select 0, 1, or multiple values from a predefined list of 7 or less options.

When to Use Something Else

  • Consider using a Switch if the only options are yes or no.
  • For a list between 2 to 7 predefined options, consider using Radio Buttons or a Select to select one option.
  • Use a Prompt when the number of list items is large or unknown. Prompts have search capabilities and folders which provide users with the means to browse options. Prompts can be configured to support single or multi-select.

Examples

Basic Example

Checkbox may be used on its own without Form Field since it includes a <label> with a for attribute referencing the underlying <input type="checkbox"> element.

Inverse

Checkbox with inverse variation

Disabled

Set the disabled prop of the Checkbox to prevent users from interacting with it.

Indeterminate

Set the indeterminate prop of the Checkbox to true to indicate the Checkbox is neither checked nor unchecked.

A common use case for an indeterminate Checkbox is when the value of a parent Checkbox is dependent on a number of child Checkboxes. The parent Checkbox is set to the indeterminate state if some (but not all) of its children are checked.

Ref Forwarding

Checkbox supports ref forwarding. It will forward ref to its underlying <input type="checkbox"> element.

Label Position

If Form Field is being used, set its labelPosition prop to designate the position of the label relative to the Checkbox. labelPosition accepts the following values:

  • FormField.LabelPosition.Top (Default)
  • FormField.LabelPosition.Left

Required

Set the required prop of a wrapping Form Field to true to indicate that the field is required. Labels for required fields are suffixed by a red asterisk.

Error States

Set the error prop of the wrapping Form Field to FormField.ErrorType.Alert or FormField.ErrorType.Error to set the Checkbox to the Alert or Error state, respectively. You will also need to set the hintId and hintText props on the Form Field to meet accessibility standards. You may wish to omit the label prop on the Form Field given that Checkbox already includes a label.

The error prop may be applied directly to the Checkbox with a value of Checkbox.ErrorType.Alert or Checkbox.ErrorType.Error if Form Field is not being used.

Alert

Alert: You must agree to the terms before proceeding

Error

Error: You must agree to the terms before proceeding

Component API

Checkbox

Props

Props extend from input. Changing the as prop will change the element interface.

NameTypeDescriptionDefault
checkedboolean

If true, set the Checkbox to the checked state.

false
disabledboolean

If true, set the Checkbox to the disabled state.

false
idstring

The HTML id of the underlying checkbox input element. This is required if label is defined as a non-empty string.

labelstring

The text of the Checkbox label.

''
onChange(e: <>) => void

The function called when the Checkbox state changes.

valuestring

The value of the Checkbox.

error

The type of error associated with the Checkbox (if applicable).

indeterminateboolean

If true, set the Checkbox to an indeterminate state. Use this on a Checkbox with nested child Checkboxes to denote that some (but not all) child Checkboxes are checked.

false
variant 'inverse' undefined

The variant for the checkbox

theme
childrenReact.ReactNode
asReact.ElementType

Optional override of the default element used by the component. Any valid tag or Component. If you provided a Component, this component should forward the ref using React.forwardRefand spread extra props to a root element.

Note: Not all elements make sense and some elements may cause accessibility issues. Change this value with care.

input
refReact.Ref<R = input>

Optional ref. If the component represents an element, this ref will be a reference to the real DOM element of the component. If as is set to an element, it will be that element. If as is a component, the reference will be to that component (or element if the component uses React.forwardRef).

Checkbox.ErrorType

Basic type information:

ErrorType

Specifications

GivenWhenThen
given the 'Basic' story is rendered
    • it should not have any axe errors
    given the 'Basic' story is rendered
    • clicked
    • it should be checked
    given the 'Alert' story is rendered
      • it should not have any axe errors
      given the 'Alert' story is rendered
      • clicked
      • it should be checked
      given the 'Error' story is rendered
        • it should not have any axe errors
        given the 'Error' story is rendered
        • clicked
        • it should be checked
        given the 'Disabled' story is rendered
          • it should not have any axe errors
          given the 'Disabled' story is rendered
            • it should be disabled
            given the 'Indeterminate' story is rendered
              • it should not have any axe errors
              given the 'Indeterminate' story is rendered
                • it should have the correct attributes
                Source: Checkbox.spec.ts

                Accessibility Guidelines

                How Checkboxes Impact the Accessible Experience

                Checkboxes used to present a group of choices require context, such as, selecting your pizza toppings. Designing a clear legend and building the context of the group is a key foundation for accessible checkboxes when users cannot visually perceive the layout.

                Keyboard Interaction

                Each Checkbox must have a focus indicator that is highly visible against the background and against the non-focused state. Refer to Accessible Colors for more information.

                Checkboxes must support the following keyboard interactions:

                • Tab: focus a checkbox
                • Space: select/unselect a focused checkbox

                Screen Reader Interaction

                Checkboxes must communicate the following to users:

                • The name (Form Field Label) of the checkbox grouping, if applicable
                • The accessible name (label) of the focused checkbox
                • Whether the checkbox is selected or unselected

                Design Annotations Needed

                • Write the context (legend) of the checkbox grouping, if applicable.

                Implementation Markup Needed

                • Checkbox must have a required attribute when the Checkbox is required for submission.
                • Checkbox must have an aria-invalid=”true” attribute when it has an error condition.
                • [Included in component] A <label> element is required with a for attribute referencing the unique id value of the associated Checkbox.
                • [Included in component] A <fieldset> element establishes the group of related Checkboxes. The child <legend> element describes the context of the grouping.
                • [Included in component] A disabled attribute is set when the Checkbox is disabled.

                Content Guidelines

                • Form Field Labels are written in title case.
                • The Checkbox Label for each individual selection are kept as concise as possible and written in sentence case.
                • When writing Checkbox Labels, refer to the Checkboxes section of the Content Style Guide.

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                FAQ Section